Decades of authoritarian rule have made Cuba a persistent source of malign influence and repression across the Americas. As the longest-running dictatorship in the region, just 90 miles from U.S. shores, the Cuban regime remains a U.S.-designated State Sponsor of Terrorism, shapes anti-democratic dynamics across Latin America, and serves as a strategic ally of authoritarian states like Russia and China. It has also pushed the country to the brink of economic collapse. More than 850,000 people to leave the island for the United States from 2022 to 2024, in addition to the millions who already left during the decades of totalitarian rule.
For over 40 years, NED has supported brave Cuban activists working to defend the fundamental freedoms of their fellow citizens. The first U.S. donor to fund organizations directly on the island, the Endowment has built a robust democracy program that empowers Cubans to advocate for their freedom. At this critical moment, NED’s partners—working both on the island and in exile—are part of a broad-based movement that supports freedom and human rights and will be ready to help shape a democratic transition.
This year, NED is providing $6 million for efforts to promote religious freedom, provide uncensored news, document human rights violations, facilitate coordination among pro-democracy leaders on the island, and connect Cuban activists with advocacy and rights groups across Latin America. This funding reached more than 40 organizations through direct grants and programs led by NED’s core institutes.
How NED’s Support Makes a Difference
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Defending Religious Freedom: NED partners are ramping up international pressure on the Cuban regime to respect the rights of religious communities, documenting and publicizing harassment targeting worshippers, church closures, and other restrictions. They are also improving coordination among leaders of different religious denominations on the island and supporting them to create community spaces where citizens can gather, discuss concerns, and organize to defend their fundamental freedoms.- Breaking Through Propaganda: NED-supported news currently reaches millions throughout Cuba and the international community. One partner developed a currency exchange tracker on which millions of people depend to determine the real value of their money amid government-imposed economic hardship, exposing widespread currency distortion by the regime. Another partner published cutting-edge reporting on the inner workings of GAESA—a military-run conglomerate and the country’s most powerful economic actor—revealing how regime elites siphon off state resources on a massive scale, impoverishing Cuba’s citizens while enriching their oppressors.
- Documenting the Regime’s Crimes: NED-supported watchdogs are helping ensure that human rights violations in Cuba are recorded, publicized, and brought before international bodies. One partner identified and publicly exposed hundreds of human rights violators, including more than 30 individuals linked to the regime, who had entered the United States after allegedly misrepresenting their backgrounds, prompting enforcement actions by U.S. immigration authorities. Another NED-supported investigation led the International Labor Organization to accept a new case against the regime for labor rights violations. These efforts give victims and advocates credible evidence to pursue justice and increase pressure on the regime to answer for its abuses.
- Advancing Citizen-Led Government Accountability: NED-supported initiatives are holding local regime officials accountable as Cubans demand more basic fundamental freedoms. One partner developed a countrywide network of information outlets publishing local citizen grievances on sanitation, infrastructure, and healthcare, collectively distributing more than 40,000 bulletins across communities. In some cases, regime representatives responded within days. By elevating citizen concerns outside of state-controlled channels, these efforts help communities challenge the regime’s narratives and demand greater responsiveness from those currently in power, while shaping Cuba’s next generation of independent leaders.
- Integrating Cuban Democracy Movements into Regional Rights Movements Across Latin America: NED has connected Cuban activists with nearly 30 human rights groups and media organizations across Latin America. These partnerships are helping raise awareness of the regime’s abuses, its support for other authoritarian governments, and the broader regional consequences of dictatorship on the island. By strengthening ties between Cuban democracy advocates and regional allies, NED-supported partners are building greater public support for Cuban freedom in countries where limited access to independent information has helped sustain misconceptions about the regime for decades.
Defending Religious Freedom: NED partners are ramping up international pressure on the Cuban regime to respect the rights of religious communities, documenting and publicizing harassment targeting worshippers, church closures, and other restrictions. They are also improving coordination among leaders of different religious denominations on the island and supporting them to create community spaces where citizens can gather, discuss concerns, and organize to defend their fundamental freedoms.At a moment of widening protests and public discontent, NED-supported partners are helping Cubans access reliable information, document abuses, demand accountability, and expose the structures that sustain authoritarian rule. This work is reinforcing broader U.S. interests in regional stability and democracy while countering the influence of authoritarian adversaries in the Western Hemisphere.
